Belgium to extend airstrikes on ISIS into Syria
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Belgium will extend its air strikes against ISIS into Syria, a spokesman for Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told AFP on Friday.
“In accordance with UN Resolution 2249, the engagement will be limited to those areas of Syria under the control of IS (ISIS) and other terrorist groups,” AFP quoted the spokesperson.
The spokesperson continued that the aim of strikes is to “destroy these groups and [their] refuges,” adding that the Belgian F-16 strikes will begin in July.
In March, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reyndres said “It doesn’t make sense to attack ISIS in Iraq but not in Syria.”
As part of the US-led coalition against ISIS, Belgium struck ISIS for the first time in Iraq in 2014. At the time, Belgium opted to stay out of Syria because of fears in the country of getting too deeply involved in the conflict. Public opinion swayed, however, after attacks in the capital Brussels in March killed 32 and wounded hundreds.
“In accordance with UN Resolution 2249, the engagement will be limited to those areas of Syria under the control of IS (ISIS) and other terrorist groups,” AFP quoted the spokesperson.
The spokesperson continued that the aim of strikes is to “destroy these groups and [their] refuges,” adding that the Belgian F-16 strikes will begin in July.
In March, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reyndres said “It doesn’t make sense to attack ISIS in Iraq but not in Syria.”
As part of the US-led coalition against ISIS, Belgium struck ISIS for the first time in Iraq in 2014. At the time, Belgium opted to stay out of Syria because of fears in the country of getting too deeply involved in the conflict. Public opinion swayed, however, after attacks in the capital Brussels in March killed 32 and wounded hundreds.